Patriots' x-factor player for Week 4 matchup with the 49ers

The New England Patriots (1-2) will be taking on one of the NFL’s best when traveling to Levi’s Stadium for a head-to-head clash with the San Francisco 49ers (1-2).

It’s a matchup that is closer than people might think with the 49ers getting hit with the injury bug as of late.

However, the Patriots might still be in trouble battling against a 49ers team that is much more talented on paper. There’s no doubt San Francisco will come into this game as hungry as ever.

As we do every week, we’re going to take a look at one Patriots player who may be able to turn the tide with a good performance, based on their matchup, other matchups around them and the overall trends of the season.

This week’s Patriots x-factor is none other than second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Gonzalez is off to a great start with the team primarily asking him to shadow the opposing team’s top receiving threat each week, which allows the Patriots to neutralize the weapon without giving up too much to the others. Gonzalez has primarily been a man coverage corner. He has struggled in zone, but he is still above average in that aspect as well.

He will likely be asked to play a different role this week, as the 49ers are dealing with a banged-up Deebo Samuel and George Kittle. They also haven’t seen the best from Brandon Aiyuk to this point. With the uncertainty of who will be healthy and the top target, and the tendencies of the 49ers’ offense to get the ball out quickly and into the hands of their playmakers, they may opt for a different approach.

That approach will likely be one where they use Gonzalez how they used to use Stephon Gilmore, which would mean blanketing one side of the field and not following a player around. Gilmore had trouble covering in the slot, and teams tried to exploit that by moving him around with his shadowed receiver.

Gonzalez is in a similar situation, and he will be asked to shut down half the field, as opposed to following around a receiver. For the first time this year, Gonzalez will face players like Samuel or Aiyuk, who can play anywhere, and Kyle Shanahan will likely try and use that against Gonzalez.

To combat it, the Patriots will have him on an island covering whoever comes his way.

If he plays this role well, it will shut down one side of the field and allow the others to make plays in space. While the 49ers may opt to target Gonzalez, the Patriots will likely keep him on the weak side shutting it down.

Gonzalez will be a pivotal piece in this week’s defensive game plan, and a good game from him could be the sole reason the Patriots come out with an upset win.